Engine-starting device.



L. H. SMITH.

ENGINE summa DEVICE.

APPLICATION ILED IAN. 25,197.

1,242,485. Pawnd oen 9,1917.

u MD ssrn /N L/EN TD i ff Hmm/v TH /q TTDRNE LEE HERMAN SMITH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application led January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,642.

To alt rizo/n t 'may concern:

Bo it known that I, LEE HERMAN SMITH, :i citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine- Starting Devices, of which the following a speci'- fication.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines and the like, and. comprises generally a device operated by an electric motor of the type commonly used for such purposes, which motor receives its ener y from any suitable source such as a secon ary or storage battery.

One of the objects is to procure a starting device for the above mentioned purpose wherein the electric motor when energized is capable of automatically engaging and driving, by means of suitable intermediary members, some element connected to and operated by the engine to be started.

Another object is to secure such a starting device in which certain instrumentalities that serve to automatically engage the motor to the engine are later brought into play to automatically effect a disengagement thereof when said engine has been cranked and starts on its own power.

In connection with this automatic engaging feature my invention has as another object the provision of a mechanism wherein the working elements are very few in number, being designed and arranged to coperate with each other in a comparatively simple and effective manner, whereby the whole device is rendered of compact construction and of reliable operation.

These and other such objects as are contemplated by the present invention will more readily become apparent to others skilled in the art after having investigated the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawing which constitutes a. part of this specification, and in which drawing numerals of reference are employed for the purpose of designating the numerous parts and elements of the construction shown therein.

In said drawing the figure is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, illustrating one embodiment of my improved startingr device. This figure shows an electric m0- tor, driving members operated thereby and adapted to coperate with some suitable engine member, and also one manner in which said device may be mounted in operative relation with said engine member.

Considering partlcularly the ligure, l is the frame housing of the electric motor which is provided at one end with an end plate 2. This end plate is attached to the frame 1 by means of suitable bolts 3 and is provided with a flange fl. This iange is adapted4 to fit against a finished seat 5 provided in the end of the bell-housing 6 and is securely fastened thereto by bolts 7. In this manner said motor is mounted upon and supported by the bellhousing 6 in such a way that a tight joint is provided to prevent the escape of oil or other lubricants which are commonly used within the flywheel housing of gas engines. At the other end of motor frame 1 there is shown a supporting member S formed integral therewith. However, if desirable, said supporting member S may constitute a portion of an end plate which may be secured to the frame l as in the case of end plate Q. lt will he noted at this point that7 inasmuch as the particular type and construction of the electric motor does not constitute an essential part of my invention, the showing of said motor is more or less conventional, and certain parts have 'been left out entirely where it is deemed that a clearer and better conception of the invention may be accomplished thereby. At either end of the motor are bushings 9 and 10 which serve as bearings for the arn'iature 11. Said armature is mounted for rotation upon a hollow shaft 12 one end of which rests in the bushing 1f), and the other end in the bushing 9. Loosely arranged within the hollow shaft 12 is a second shaft 13 adapted to move longitudinally back and forth there within and projecting at a suitable distance beyond either end thereof. This shaft 13 is journaled for relatively sliding and rotary movement in the hollow shaft 12. Fitted between the bushings 9 and 10 and their respective ends of the armature 11 are two washer elements 14 and 15, of suitable material such as felt, whose function it is to prevent the oil used for lubricating purposes from seeping beyond bushings 9 and 10 and coming in contact with the windings of armature 11. One of said projecting ends of inner shaft 13 extends to a suitable distance within the bell-housing 6 and has fastened thereupon a driving pinion 16. Pinion 16 is secured upon said shaft as shown by means of a tapered lit therewith and a nut 17 screw threaded upon the end of said shaft to draw said pinion firmly into place. ()ther methods may be used, it being essentiai however that the attachment be a secure one owing t0 the constant tendency of the pinion to work loose. This driving pinion is providedwith spur teeth which are adapted to mesh with similar teeth pnt or otherwise arranged about the periphery of the iiywheel .18. Disposed about the .said Preuens epd 0f Shaft 13, and refercbly ,et a 0,1116 edlecent to the end p -te 2 is a vresilient element 19. This resilient element, Whose function will'be hereinafter described, consists of. a coiled spring which may be held in its proper position upon shaft 13 by any suitable method. In thedrawing I haveshown the bushing 9 to project at Ye slight distance beyond the end of lthe plate 2 and, if de sirable, said spring 19 may have its diameter such that when forced onto said Yprojecting end of bushing 9 it is thereby held securely in place by means of its own resiliency. At the other .end of the motor the ishaft .13 has its projecting end .thereof suppliedwith a spiral .thread 20. Coperating with the thread 20 is a member 21, which in .the ab sence of a betterterm I shall hereinafter refer to as a nut. Said nut has its interior diameter provided with a spiral thread corresponding to that of shaft 1 3 and is also counterbo'red as seen for a suitable distance to permit of its being fitted onto the end of the hollo-Wshaft 12, for which purpose said hollow shaft projects slightly beyond the end of its bearing bushing 10. A key 22 eooperating between the nut and hollow shaft fixes these members for corres vondlng rotation with each other and to urther secure the nut 21 upon said hollow shaft there is providedh a sci-en1 23 having a point 24, which when set in place enters a corresponding aperture in the surface of said hollen7 shaft. I extend the hollow shaft 12 and provide the same with internal threads -instesnl of using the extending nut 21, but for facility in manufacture and assembly the use of such nut is preferable. When the several elements of .the starting mechanism are in opera-tire position as shoirn'in Fig. 1 the shaft 13 extends to a suitable distance beyond the outer end of the threaded nut 2 1, and upon its extension thereis an element 25. lSaid element is provided 'yvjith an internal screw thread by means .pf which it may be screwed upon the end of said Shaft, and to secure it vagainst the liability of becoming Loose a pin 26 rassesthmugh a 'hole in Said .element and said shaft 13, `being riveted or otherwise suitably fastened therein. The element 25, when shaft 13 and pinion 16 are thus i-n theirv normal position, has .the maximum portion of its mass disposed below ,the cen- *er if Seid Shaft eed .thereby mises a scribed ,as follows: With the pinion 16 in its idle position and the motor at rest let it he assumed that a suitable source of poner, as a storage battery (not shown) be applied to the armature 11 of the motor. As the armature 11 and the shaft 12y upon which iit is mounted begin to'rotate the nut 21, which is securely attached, as hcreinbe.- fore explained, lupon the end of said shaft, rotates in unison therewith. Coincident with 4this, inoyeinent the shaft 13, by reason of its lown inertia and also the inertia of countcrhalancin member 25, resists being rotated and is tiereby more-d bodily in an arial direction ydue to its seresv threaded engagement with the nut 21. Such longitudinal 4mm'einenteffect s the meshin ofthe pinion 16 with Vthe flywheel 18. "i hen in full ineshed position therewith the said pinion engaged and compressed ,the buffer spring 19 toV such an extent that further relative rotation between the shaft 13 and shaft 12 is prohibited, whereby the armature 11 now' applies its full driving force to the pinion 1610i' the purpose of cranking the vengine flywheel 18. W'hen said engine runs on its own power and the flywheel 18 drives the pinion 16 at a speed greater than that at which it was formerly driven by the armature 11 the longitudinal thrust of the shaft 13 is reversed thereby carrying the pinion 16 ont of mesh with the engine member 18. When the'pinion is disengaged 105 from said engine member the counterbalance 25 contacts vwith nut 21 and thereby serres to 'limit the outward movement of said pinion.

"Thaije thus shown and described one 11g method in which my lintention may be put into practical use.` However, I am Well aware that the present embodiment is silbject to numerous changes and alterations and I do not therefore wish to he limited 115 to the ,exact details of construction andar` rangement shown.y It is beliered that the scope ofthe appended claims is suiicient to embrace any l'such anges 'and alterations.

Hariri thus edand ascertained the 120 nature of invention what I dsire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A vstarting device having in combination with an engine driven member, an electric motor having aholloyv armature shaft, 125 arsecond shaft mounted within said hollow7 and longitudinally movable ,with respeci: thereto, a drivin inion fastened upon one end -of said seconv shaft and Ia spiral thread .est une?! the @berend @besote 13o member-seemed to one-end of said hollow shaft' having an internal thread adapted'to engagethe thre'ad on said second shaft, and a counter-balancing member fastenedto the threaded end of-said 'second'shaft serving to restrain `the same from rotation, whereby whensaid hollow shaft is operatedthe screw 'threaded engagement between said internally threaded-member and the second shaft acts to" automatically carry said driving pinion into iengagement with the 'engine drivelnnenriber.A 1 *f3 2. A 4starting device having in combination with anengine driven member, an electric inotorwith its armature 'mounted upon a hollowshaft, a second shaft within the hollowshaft-and axially movable 'with respect-thereto, a driving pinion securednpon the 4end of `said se'eon'd 'shaft anda spiral thread upon `the other end thereof, serew threaded means ivnpon'one end 'of said'hollow shaft-factuated thereby-'and 'adapted to eooperate -with the Aspiral threadupon said second sha'ft, and la counterbalancin `nien'iber fastened to the second shaft serving to restrain .the sameT from rotation, -whereby when said hollow shaft is operated by'said armature said screw threaded means automatically advances-said second shaft to carry the driving pinion into engagement with the engine driven member substantially as described. l

3. A starting device having in 'combination with an engine driven member, a motor having its armature mounted upon a hollow shaft, bearings in which said armature is rotatably supported, a second shaft within said' hollow shaft actuated thereby for rela-v tive axial and rotary movements therewith, a pinion on oneendfof said second shaft and at spiral thread upon the other vend thereof, said hollow shaft havin a screw threaded nut keyed-upon its en to coact with said s piral thread, an inertia weight fixed on sald second shaft serving `to hold the same from rotating, thereby allowing said second shaft to be moved automatically to carry said pinion into engagement with the engine driven member when the hollow shaft is operated, and a resilient member to absorb the shock of such engagement.

4,. In a starting device for engines, in combination, an en ine operated member, a motor having a ho low armature shaft, an inner shaft within said hollow shaft projecting at both ends therefrom, a Pinion fastened upon one end and a counterbalance fastened to the other end of said inner shaft, a nut fastened to said hollow shaft and cooperating with said inner shaft to automatically move the same in an axial direction for the purpose of engaging said pinion with the engine member, said counterbalance serving to assure said axial movement of the inner shaft, and means coacting with said pinion to absorb the shock of said cngagement.

5. In a starting device for engines, in combination, an engine flywheel, a gear adapted to engage and drive said flywheel, a`niotor having a hollow armatureV shaft and an inner shaft loosely mounted therewithin, an internally threaded member rotatable with said hollowshaft and coacting with a thread o'n'said'l inner shaft toautomatically move saidlinncrshaft to engage said pinion withsaid flywheel, and a counterbalance oni the threaded end of the 'inner shaft to assure said engagement.

6. Ina starting Ideviee for engines, in combination, Van engine member, a motor having two shafts one within the other, means on the outer shaft coacting with the inner shaft'to automatically move-the latter =into"'and out of driving engagement with'said engine member, and means on the inner' shaft for `assuring itsV engagement with thefengine" member, saidv lastmeans coacti'ngfwith saidfirst means'jto limit the movement of `said inner shaft when disenga ed from the engine member, as described.

In a starting device the combination with an engine flywheel, of a motor having its frame fastened to the housing of said flywheel, an armature and bearings therefor, ahollow4 shaft upon which said armature is mounted1 -a secondshaft within the hollow fshaft adapted to be' moved longitudinally into engagement with said flywheel, a threaded nut on said hollow' shaft coperating with a similar thread onsaid second shaft, anda counter-weight on said second shaft serving'to hold it from rotation Awhereby when the hollow shaft is operated said second shaft -is automatically moved to drivin ly engage said flywheel, substantially as escribed.

8( A starting device having in combination, an engine member, a motor shaft adapted to drive said member and having a threaded extension fastened to the end thereof, and a second shaft having eccentric and concentric members coaeting therewith so that said second shaft is moved to establish a driving relation between said motor shaft and engine member, said eccentric member coacting with said threaded extension to provide a stop for the second shaft when in its normal position.

9. A starting device having in combination, an engine member, a motor shaft having an internally threaded extension fastened thereto, and aA second shaft threaded to coact with the motor shaft and having driving means adapted to be operatively connected with the engine member and having a counter-weight coacting therewith to permit the shaft threads to automatically establish a driving relation between the motor shaft and engine member, said 

